HC clears neutral entry in caste survey

Hyderabad:Justice S. Nanda of the Telangana High Court paved the way for a neutral entry in the caste survey that began on Wednesday. The judge entertained a writ plea filed by Mohammad Waheed, president of Kula Nirmulana Sangham (KNS — Casteless Society of India) and another challenging the actions of state and various departments in not creating a separate column to record and enumerate people opting voluntarily for an identity of ‘No Religion and No Caste’ in the ensuing Samagra Intinti Kutumba Survey, Comprehensive Social Economic Educational Employment Political and Caste Survey.

The petitioners alleged that the respondent authorities are not considering the representations of the petitioners for creation of a separate column to identify ‘No Religion and No Caste’ in official records. The petitioner further alleged that the actions of the respondents are illegal and in violation of the Constitution besides failing to implement the orders of the High Court in another writ plea and public interest litigation.

The petitioners inter alia sought a direction to the respondent authorities to create an additional column to the existing columns in order to correctly represent the identity of those people opting for No Religion ‘NR’ instead of ‘Other Religions’.

The judge refused to allow the interim application, however, reiterated the fundamental right to freedom of religion and directed the respondent authorities to consider the representations of the petitioners and take a decision on the said representations forthwith in accordance with the law. The judge also directed the respondent authorities to file their response and posted the matter for further adjudication.